In what has become somewhat of a political story because everything turns into a political story these days, Caitlin Clark is currently battling Angel Reese for Rookie of the Year in the WNBA.
The saga started long before this season, though, with Reese always having a chip on her shoulder about the attention the former Iowa star receives. While Clark has chosen not to engage in the would-be feud, Reese, who now plays for the Chicago Sky, has acted like a petulant child at times.
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Angel Reese just hugged her teammate for shoving Caitlin Clark to the ground and calling her a “bitch.”
— Bobby Burack (@burackbobby_) June 1, 2024
I thought @elleduncanESPN and @chiney said Reese is one of the classiest women around and Clark is not a target?
pic.twitter.com/zcxRNxCNje
On the court, the duel has been no contest, with Clark's Indiana Fever currently sitting at 3-1 against the Sky on the season. Still, the sports media (which is often worse than the national press when it comes to left-wing bias) has done its best to beclown itself. Just a day before their latest matchup, ESPN placed Reese above Clark in its rookie rankings.
ESPN’s WNBA rookie rankings:
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 29, 2024
1. Angel Reese
2. Caitlin Clark
3. Leonie Fiebich
4. Kamilla Cardoso
5. Aaliyah Edwards
6. Rickea Jackson
7. Kate Martin
How'd they come to that conclusion? By making up some statistical formula called "consensus wins," in which a player is assigned credit for total team victories.
Regardless, is the rookie race between Clark and Reese a legitimate one? Many would suggest not given the latter's claim to fame rests almost solely on rebounding. That's not to say rebounding isn't important, but no one wins MVP in the NBA because they lead the league in rebounds. Reese is also a comical shooter at times, highlighting big flaws in her game.
Angel Reese got FOUR offensive rebounds in one possession…she has 3 straight games of 20+ rebounds 🤯💪
— Guru (@DrGuru_) August 25, 2024
pic.twitter.com/GSWMq75pu8
If you watch closely, Reese gets four offensive rebounds because she missed four lay-ups. Stat-padding doesn't even begin to describe what's in that video, and that happened again on Friday night when Reese was force-fed the ball against the Fever's second-string with seconds to go to ensure she got yet another "double-double."
This also happened during that game.
Apparently that “reality is coming” WNBA vets were telling Caitlin Clark about is just hit sticks and flagrant fouls
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) August 31, 2024
pic.twitter.com/V5IF40Ddwl
You can see the Sky player, who is so irrelevant no one knows her name, laughing the moment she plows over Clark from the backside. It was on purpose, and anyone claiming otherwise is blind.
With all that said, as dumb as the sports media and the Sky are, Clark continues to get the last laugh. The Fever ended up winning that game 100-81, with Clark breaking a WNBA record for most points and assists in a game. By the end, Sky fans were cheering for her.
I probably don’t need to tell you all that Caitlin Clark’s 31-4-12 tonight is the first line of 30+ points and 12+ assists in WNBA history.
— Adam Jacobi (@adam_jacobi) August 31, 2024
Not among rookies. Ever.
She’ll come into your town and make your fans cheer louder for her than you. Womp womp, get used to it. The reality check is here and her name is Caitlin Clark. pic.twitter.com/RHtiiFty9e
— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) August 31, 2024
The hate Clark has received both on and off the court, including being accused of having "white privilege," has only fueled her game. She's making all the talking heads who doubted her look stupid, and there simply is no contest for Rookie of the Year. Anyone still claiming Reese is at the top of the list is doing so for purely political reasons.
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